The Standard...The Fathers Expression

Pastors Mistaken Identity

Give thanks and honor to Apostle Bill Johnson for this message

A church had decided to build a building because there ministry needs were growing. The pastor was eager and excited so he kept asking the contractor to give him a job to help build the church. Something that is usually not recommended to be done.

Finally the contractor reluctantly agreed to let the Pastor help. When the contractor was leaving for the day he asked the Pastor to cut 100 2x4s at 8 foot length. The pastor was excited and grabbed the first board and measured out 8 feet and cut the board. Then he grabbed the next board to cut, but used the first board as the measurement instead of the tape measure. Then he cut the third and used the second board as a measurement. Each time the board was cut it was 1/8 of and inch longer.

Once the pastor cut all 100 boards you can imagine the boards were not at at 8 feet they were all longer and different lengths. His mistake was not using the original true standard to measure the wood. He thought he could each new board as a true measure, but with each board cut the measurement changed.

What is the point of this story? We can never get away from the true standard by which we live by. If our standard is the previous generations then we are eventually going to get off and lose authority and power. Religion will become more powerful than the word of God.

What we need to do in our heart is go back to the original standard, that is what this series is going to be about. So buckle your seatbelt, it may get a little rough in here. However, I believe we are onto something that will bring transformation in our lives and the lives around us.

For 2000 years we have been measuring ourself to the previous generation instead of the original standard from 2000 years ago.

Jesus gave the Apostles Power and Authority

Luke 9:1 NLT

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.

Matthew 10:1 NLT

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

When the disciples

Matthew 10:7 NLT

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus gave the apostle authority and power. Then he commissioned them to teach others what he taught them.

What did Jesus teach them to do? Heal the sick, caste out evil spirits, and announce the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Mark 16:20 NLT

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

Preach Salvation

Salvation means more than just accepting Jesus and His blood cleansing you from all sin.

Salvation means that we saved, Healed, and Delivered.

The body of Christ cannot get away from the complete message of salvation!

It is the will of God for us to be healed, to be delivered.

We cannot stop believing in this message! We cannot stop preaching this message!

Preach like Jesus Taught the Disciples

Hebrews 2:4 NLT

And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Acts 10:38 NLT

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Romans 15:13 NLT

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:18–19 NLT

Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

Paul said he “fully presented the good news!”

The original standard of teaching with an expectation of signs and wonders to follow.

We Believe in the Power of God to Heal and Deliver